14 Jul HELP HATZALAH HELP KLAL YISRAEL- An Exclusive Interview with Catskill Hatzalah Coordinators Yidel Feig, Yom Tov Malek and Bernie Gips
Catskills Hatzalah is the largest all-volunteer
Ambulance Service in the Catskills, providing
premium quality prehospital emergency medical
treatment and ambulance transport at no cost to
all who need it. Catskills Hatzalah, a division of
Chevra Hatzalah, was first established in 1983 to
meet the growing needs of the summer residents
in the Catskills. In 2003, Catskills Hatzalah
expanded it’s operations to provide service
year-round in Sullivan County.
AH: How does Hatzalah work upstate
with members coming from all different
parts of the tri-state area?
YF, YM & BG: During the summer months, all
the Hatzalah members that come upstate have
the same privileges in the Catskills area that they
would have in the city.
The Catskills division is the seventeenth “neighborhood”
of Central Hatzalah of New York City.
While the Catskills have a year-round operation,
the vast majority of their activity is in July and
August, when summer residents arrive. A plurality
(possibly majority) of these residents live in
areas covered by NYC Hatzalah ten months of
the year. A similar proportion of the Hatzalah
EMTs are New York City members, carrying
New York City radios, so it is logical for dispatch
to use this frequency. However, there are
dedicated Catskills dispatchers, who are familiar
with the camp, bungalow colony, and hotel
locations in the Catskills. The Catskills dispatchers
use C-BASE as a radio call sign, while other
NYC dispatchers use H-BASE as a radio call sign.
Catskills Hatzalah is constantly updating their
fleet and equipment to provide the best available
care.
AH: How many Hatzalah members are
upstate over the summer?
YF & BG: During the week, approximately
125-150. On weekends, approximately 350.
AH: To which hospital does Hatzalah
typically take someone?
YF & BG: Harris, which is now called Catskill
Regional, Ellenville Hospital or Orange Regional
Medical Center in Middletown, depending on
which is closer. The Orange Regional Medical
Center in Middletown has a state of the art
Cath-lab to treat heart attack victims, as well as
a level 2 NICU for premature newborns.
AH: How does one contact the Bikur
Cholim if they are in one of the hospitals
upstate?
YF & BG: There are Chesed rooms in all area
hospitals. The staff and security will know
where to direct you. Chesed 24/7 from New
Square services all three area hospitals. Their
number is: 845.354.3233.
AH: Which Rabbonim does Hatzalah
go through when they have questions
upstate?
YF, YM & BG: The Vaʼad Harabonim of
Hatzalah, which consists of many different
prominent Rabbonim and Dayonim.
AH: If one has an emergency, how
should one prepare for Hatzalah, especially
at night and on Shabbos?
YF, YM & BG: Call 718.387.1750 -or-
718.230.1000. Both numbers work with both
718 or 212. If you donʼt have money, you can call
collect or call the 800 number, which is good all
year round: 1-800-387-1750. You should have the
exact address, the exact town and cross section
because a lot of the towns have the same street
names. Stand at the road with a flashlight on to
guide Hatzalah, even on Friday night. The calmer
you stay and the more guidance you give Hatzalah,
the better off the patient will be.
Catskills Hatzalah responds to over 2,000 calls per
year, has a fleet of 13
ambulances and over
350 volunteers.
AH: How many
calls does
Hatzalah
typically receive
over the
summer?
YF, YM & BG:
Over 2,000. The
calls vary. The most
prevalent calls are
about children falling
off their bikes, injuries
from playing, or
allergic reactions to
bee bites or insect
bites. We get calls
about cuts and bruises, heart attacks, and
women who have high risk pregnancies. We ask
people not to come upstate if they are very sick or
if they have high risk pregnancies. Although the
hospitals cooperate with us 100%, they may not
have the facilities and the capabilities of treating
someone with these kinds of ailments. We then
need to transport these patients with paramedics
which may not be safe. With all the construction on
Route 17, this requires us to tie up our fleet, tie up
our volunteers for many, many hours and it puts a
tremendous hardship on Hatzalah.
AH: Is there anything else that you
would like to tell Country Vues readers?
YF, YM & BG: Yes, again a reminder to have
working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Pool safety, make sure the pool are
fenced properly and there are no gaps
that small children can crawl under.
Make sure proper adult supervision is at
the pool at all times. There should be a
working phone at the pool preferably a
RED emergency phone, especially C”V
in the event of a Shabbos emergency at
the pool. Deer ticks are very prevalent
upstate and everyone should use
proper attire and use repellant when
hiking or playing in grassy areas. In the
event of a suspected tick bite, if there is
NO allergic reaction, Please do not call
Hatzalah. We do not perform tick
removal. You should call your physician
for guidance, removal and or testing
and follow up treatment.
Wishing all a Safe & HEALTHY Summer